TCAP Secondary Assessments

The Secondary TCAP Assessments will include tests in the following ten subject areas:

On October 29, 1998, in compliance with the TCA 49-1-608 and TCA 49-6-6001(a)(1), the Tennessee State Board of Education designated ten high school courses for the development of end of course examinations. The Select Oversight Committee on Education of the Tennessee General Assembly subsequently affirmed the State Board's recommendation.

In the High School End of Course Tests Policy, renamed the High School Examinations Policy in August, 2002, the State Board stipulated that beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2001-2002, students must successfully pass examinations in three subject areas - Mathematics, Science, and Language Arts - in order to earn a high school diploma. These examinations, called Gateway Tests, were intended to raise the academic bar for all high school students and add accountability for students' academic performance. In the 2001-2002 school year, the Department of Education began to administer the Gateway Tests three times annually to accommodate students completing work in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Tests will not be given other than at these scheduled times.

In implementing the Gateway Tests, the Department provided forms calibration assessments for Algebra I and Biology I in Spring 2001. Seventh and eighth graders taking Algebra I in 2000-2001 were included in the forms calibration; however, this administration did not count as an official administration of the Gateway Tests. Additional field testing for the End of Course tests began with Math Foundations II in Spring 2001, English I in Spring 2002, United States History and Physical Science in Spring 2004.

The High School Examinations Policy states "Local boards of education will determine how to use the results of end of course exams in accordance with guidelines to be developed by the State Board of Education." The State Board Policy as of September 20, 2001 is:

Under the section titled "Elements of the Program," element 1.d to read as follows:

d. Results of individual student performance from all administered end of course tests including the three gateway examinations shall be provided to the individual teacher in a timely fashion to facilitate the inclusion of these results as part of the student's grade in that subject. This result shall count not less than fifteen percent of the student's grade in the semester in which the test was administered.

Any unapproved departure from standardized test administration procedures can potentially invalidate test results. There are three types of testing accommodations available for student use. TCAP Allowable Accommodations may be used by all students as needed. Special Conditions Accommodations may be used only by students receiving special education services who have the need documented by their Individual Education Program Team (IEP Team) or 504 Service Plan. English Language Learner (ELL) accommodations and may be used only by students who meet specified criterion for ELL services. Any other Accommodations not previously addressed must have a Unique Adaptive Accommodation Request Form completed and approved prior to test administration by the Special Education Department. All Allowable Accommodations may be found at the Accommodations web site link to the left.